Patent GB-1247188-A (GB)
Title: Tumbling machine
Inventor: HEIBERGER ERNST
IPC: B24B31/02
Filed: 1968-12-20
Abstract: 1,247,188. Tumbling. GUALDIPEX S.A. 20 Dec., 1968 [22 Dec., 1967], No. 60612/68. Heading B3D. Tumbling drums are mounted for rotation on coaxial discs, themselves rotatable in a frame and the frame being oscillatable during tumbling on a stand. The frame is tilted to discharge or assist loading of the drums. A frame 14, Figs. 1 and 2, has stub shafts 13 received in bearings 12 on a support 11. A shaft 15 mounted in the frame 14 carries discs 16, 17 supporting two drums 18. Each drum has a shaft 20 rotatably mounted in a bearing 19 carried by the disc 16; the drum extends through the disc 17, being supported therein by a bearing 21. The drum can be closed by a cover 22 which may be provided with a quick-closure device; the cover has a tube 23 for the supply of liquid. For filling and emptying, the frame 14 is tilted so that the drum openings 18c face obliquely upwards and obliquely downwards, respectively. The angular speed of the drums about their axes Z-Z is twice as great as that of the discs 16, 17 about their axis Y-Y. Drive of the parts may be by individual motors, e.g. hydraulic or electric; alternatively, drive may be by a single motor through speed-control gears giving individual adjustment of the speed of the parts.  In a modification, Figs. 5 and 6, having four drums 18, a part 14a suspended from the frame 14 carries motors 25, 26 fed through flexible electric cables or tubes 27. The motor 25 drives, through a belt 28, a ring 29 on the disc 16. The motor 26 drives, through a belt 30, a pulley 31 rotatably mounted on the shaft 15, the hub 31a of the pulley 31 driving, through a belt 32, preferably toothed, pulleys 33 on the drum shafts 20. In a modification, Fig. 7, a motor on the frame 14 drives, through a belt 28, a ring 29 on the disc 16. The drums 18 are driven by individual motors 34, preferably hydraulic. Liquid is fed to and from the motors by flexible tubes 27<SP>1</SP>, a non-rotatable sleeve 35 having ducts 36, 37 leading to annular grooves 38, 39 and a housing 40 rotating with the shaft 15 and having tubes 41, 42 connecting the grooves 38, 39 with the motors 34. To ensure synchronous rotation of the drums they are coupled, e.g. by a toothed belt 51. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, an hydraulic cylinder 43 is arranged between the support 11 and the frame 14 for effecting pivotal movement of the frame. This is performed 5-10 times per minute. As shown in Figs. 6 and 8, flushing liquid is supplied to the drums 18 through tubing 44 connected by a coupling 45 to the hollow shaft 15. On the shaft 15 is mounted a distributer ring 46 to which are connected the tubes 23 leading to the drum covers 22. Connection of the tubes 23 with the covers 22 is provided by a revolving turret so that the drums 18 may rotate against the ends of the tubes 23. The distributer ring 46 is provided with plug couplings so that the covers 22 may be removed together with the tubes 23 connected thereto for emptying or recharging the drums 18. Between the cover 22 and the drum 18 are two gaskets 48, preferably rubber sheets, with registering holes 47; a screen 49 is provided between the sheets. The sheets are held in fixed position by a pin 54. The cover 22 is rotatable so that holes 47<SP>1</SP> therein are in register with the holes 47 for discharging flushing liquid from the drum, or out of register therewith. The drum has a snap closure 50 comprising a lever 52 and tension hook 53 engaging a groove 55 in the cover 22.